Anti-Discrimination Ordinances Across the Philippines

Will the Anti-Discrimination Bill finally get passed into law?

Like many LGBT advocates, I’m wondering whether the Anti-Discrimination Bill is going to be passed or get passed over this 17th Congress. The Anti-Discrimination Bill (H.B. 4982 by Kaka J. Bag-ao, Geraldine B. Roman et al. & S.B.N. 1271 by Risa Hontiveros) is a piece of proposed legislation that would make discrimination on the basis of real or perceived sex, age, class, status, ethnicity, color, disability, religious and political beliefs, sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression punishable by law. The bill is also popularly known as the SOGIE Equality Bill.

Here are the discriminatory practices and their penalties covered by the proposed Senate Bill:

Subjecting a person to analogous acts that impair or nullify their enjoyment, recognition, and exercise of fundamental rights and freedoms (Same penalty as the prohibited act to which it is analogous)

The House Bill provides for more discriminatory practices but proposes a penalty scheme where the judge is given much more discretion.

What if the bill doesn’t pass into law? Not all hope is lost. The popularization of anti-discrimination ordinances ensures that LGBT Filipinos are offered some protection, granted your area is covered. Below is a list of anti-discrimination ordinances from across the Philippines.

An Ordinance Prohibiting All Acts of Discrimination Directed Against Homosexuals in any Office in Quezon City, Whether in the Government or in the Private Sector, and Providing Penalties for Violation Thereof